By definition, the inauguration marked the formal culmination of the presidential transition of Laura Montez that began when she won the Senate vote to decide who will become President on January 5, 2017, a constitutional proceeding following the United States presidential election on November 8, 2016, and became the President-elect. She was widely celebrated as the first elected female President, while her predecessor, Selina Meyer, was the first woman President, but was not elected, having been elevated from the Vice Presidency following the resignation of Stuart Hughes.

After accepting the Oath of Office, Montez began her inaugural address with "My fellow citizens, this is the dawn of a new era. Una epoca nueva." Seconds into her inaugural address, CNN was able to report that Tibet has officially been freed, with Greg, the CNN anchor covering the Inauguration, saying "President Montez has brokered a deal with the Chinese government to free Tibet." Co-anchor Dan Egan remarks that this will no doubt put her in line for the Nobel Peace Prize, even though Montez's predecessor Selina Meyer had done all of the work arranging it.